Overflo Blog

Having an efficient, well-organized warehouse layout is crucial for smooth warehouse operations. The warehouse must be set up to accommodate the current inventory, as well as future inventory that may arrive. Flexibility and versatility are key, but even the most flexible warehouse layouts need to be adjusted from time to time. How often should the warehouse layout be changed? Let's do some assessments to find out.

Spring is finally here, and you know what that means. It's time for some spring cleaning. This is a dreaded process, but it is the perfect way to refresh a home or business. Get rid of what's not working and implement new strategies to keep the space clean in the future. Here are seven warehouse spring cleaning tips you can benefit from.

Want to get the most out of your warehousing space? We don't blame you. This is an investment for your business, and like any investment, you want to get your money's worth. At Overflo, we take time to make sure each of our clients is getting the right inventory space for their needs – not too much, and not too little. Check out these five tips to maximize your warehousing space, courtesy of our Maryland warehouse.

You've decided to outsource your order fulfillment to save money, increase efficiency, reduce overhead, etc. That's great! However, it doesn't mean you should turn over all control for your customer service. You still need to make sure your customers are receiving what they ordered, when they ordered it, and in a condition you're happy with. Here are some tips for maintaining customer satisfaction with outsourced order fulfillment.

Needing more space is not a bad sign. In fact, it's an indicator that you are growing as a business and you have new demands to meet. With that in mind, you don't want to grow so quickly that you end up paying for empty space. How can you find a balance between your current and future needs? In this guide, we will explain how to determine when you need more warehouse space.

There are many factors that determine how safe and productive a warehouse is. They all have some level of importance, but one of the most significant factors is warehouse lighting. A well-lit warehouse is a well-functioning warehouse, and it's amazing how much subtle changes can dramatically transform a space. Let's take a look at how lighting improves warehouse safety and productivity.

Every piece of warehouse equipment has its own maintenance requirements. From large conveyors to push carts for order packing, each device needs to move and function properly. Forklifts are some of the most popular machines used in warehouses because they are efficient and easy to operate. In this guide, we'll explain how forklift maintenance improves warehouse operations and the type of maintenance required for forklifts.

Warehouses can both reduce their carbon footprint, and their cost, through a number of innovations widely available today. Strategic development from multiple angles, including paradigms which surround construction as well as manufacturing, can be put to task as a means of reducing carbon footprints. Several will be explored here.

It's no secret that Amazon dominates the ecommerce industry. In fact, recent studies show that Amazon accounts for 43% of online sales. Whether it's their product variety or their free shipping programs, one thing is certain: they're doing something right. A company cannot thrive that strongly without great customer service, and that's the area we will focus on today. Here are some ways online retailers can implement Amazon's customer care strategies.

Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo can turn a new idea into an international success. Selling a high volume of orders may seem great at first â€“ until you have to actually fulfill them. This determines the continued success of the product and solidifies your first impression. Before you set yourself up for a logistical nightmare, check out these order fulfillment tips for crowdfunding orders.

Are you looking to expand your small business or streamline your ecommerce sales? If so, you may consider third-party order fulfillment. In this setup, your products are housed, packed and shipped through a different company that specializes in warehousing and distribution. You can keep track of orders with real-time inventory updates, but you do not have to handle the actual labor involved with order processing. The guide below provides helpful tips for small business owners branching into third-party order fulfillment for the first time.

If you work in ecommerce sales, you understand the importance of free shipping. This is a service that customers have come to expect from online retailers. A staggering 80% of consumers say free shipping is a primary incentive for shopping online, and 48% of shoppers will add extra items to their cart to qualify for free shipping.

Did you know that some order fulfillment companies will not work with businesses that have a high SKU count? There are several reasons for this, but most of them come down to simplicity. Businesses with low SKU counts have fewer products to pick, making it easier to get orders out. As you start to compare fulfillment centers for your business, this is something you will need to keep in mind.

Many retailers are moving away from traditional storefronts in favor of online sales. With online retail, there is fewer overheads and a wider pool of potential customers. Buyers are moving their shopping habits to the Internet because they want fast, convenient ways to buy the things they need. In this guide, we will go over some warehousing tips for transitioning to online retail so your business can adjust successfully.

The winter presents several obstacles for warehouse workers: cold temperatures, limited natural daylight, increased order fulfillment demands, and fast-paced workdays. Most of these circumstances are beyond the warehouse's control, but there are steps the owners can take to improve conditions and create a positive work environment during the winter. Here are some strategies we use to improve warehouse work conditions.

Order fulfillment delays are stressful at any time of year, but they can be particularly worrisome during the peak-shipping season. There are many more orders to complete at this time, which means a small delay can create major consequences. Even with every precaution in place, issues can happen. How you recover from them will determine the overall performance success. Here are some tips for how to handle order fulfillment delays during peak season.

Online sales started even earlier this year, with many stores releasing their Black Friday specials at the beginning of December. That hasn't stopped consumers from continuing to shop all month long though. In fact, every day since November 1 has had over $1 billion in online sales.

To maintain customer satisfaction and keep up with shipping demands, retailers have pushed back their order cutoff dates. In order to guarantee shipping before Christmas day, consumers must complete their online orders by December 19 for most retailers. Some may extend that deadline as late as the 22, but the majority are staying as safe as possible.

The holidays are busy for everyone, especially stores and warehouses. Customers expect to get their items quickly and correctly so they can wrap them in time for Christmas. A small delay can cause a slew of problems, so it's best to avoid them at all costs. Here are some tips to stay on track with holidayorder fulfillment.

Winter is a costly time for warehouses because of the heat required to keep the building warm. Some warehouse operators will delay turning on the heat as long as possible to avoid this hefty cost. This isn't always the best idea though because workers cannot be productive in cold temperatures. Sometimes it is better to get the temp up so the building can operate efficiently.
Here are some winter energy saving tips for distribution centers to help you keep costs down.

Safety is crucial in warehouse operations. There is a lot of heavy merchandise and machinery in the building that can cause serious injury in the wrong hands. Here we will explore some warehouse safety practices that prevent common accidents in distribution centers.

Black Friday is quickly approaching, and many stores have already released their ads. Like last year, these stores are extending their sale prices online to prevent chaos in stores. This is great for consumers, but it can create panic for warehouses that aren't prepared for the hype. Here are some Black Friday Warehousing Tips.

Winter is an interesting time for the warehouse industry. Temperatures are plummeting, but the demand for warehouse operations is at its peak. Warehouse managers have to be smart about staffing, scheduling, and organizing to meet the chaotic needs for this time of year. Listed below are some warehouse management tips for winter to ensure your distribution center operates efficiently.

Stores are transforming the way that they process returns for online orders, and it's having a major impact on the warehousing and shipping industries. The new services make returns convenient for shoppers, but they require a great deal of extra work for everyone else. Retailers, logistics providers and warehouses alike are now switching gears to accommodate new expectations. Let's explore the way this system is changing and what that means for the future.

A warehouse should operate like a well-oiled machine.. Even in times of high product demands, such as the upcoming holiday season, a warehouse should still function with maximum efficiency. Source of inefficiency in a warehouse aren't always easy to detect, but their side effects are. Let's take a look at some indicators to look for in warehouse operations.

There are several factors that influence warehouse productivity levels, from employee morale to picking methods to product organization and beyond. Something as simple as clutter can create a major obstacle in a warehouse that delays every area in the facility. If your warehouse productivity has been low, you may see if clutter is to blame. This guide will show you how to correct this issue and boost your efficiency.

Each step in order fulfillment relies on the one before it. Shippers cannot transport items until forklift operators bring pallets to the dock. Pallets can't be filled with items until packers put them in boxes. At the start of this whole process is the pickers – the people who pull items from the warehouse to complete orders. In this guide, we will go over some proven ways to reduce order picking times to speed up the fulfillment process as a whole.

Minimizing expenses is a crucial part of running a business. The less you spend, the more you make. It's as simple as that. One of the biggest ways retailers can lower their overhead is to cut back on their warehousing costs. These tips will provide some smart ways for you to save money and get the most out of your warehousing budget..

In many businesses, success is hard to quantify. The only way a counseling center knows how effective its efforts are is through referrals and the overall happiness of the patients. In warehousing though, there are a number of indicators that show how well the business is functioning. Here are some ways to measure the success of warehousing operations.

The speed and fluidity of the order fulfillment process directly dictates the overall productivity of a warehouse. Without a proper transition between steps and transactions, there may be a massive delay down the line. Modern technology allows for truly seamless order fulfillment services, like the ones we offer here at Overflo. Let's take a look at tools and techniques warehouses can use to improve order processing.

Warehouses focus a great deal of effort in improving inventory management systems, order fulfillment procedures, communication methods, and more. While all of those factors are important, they are meaningless if there is not a good staff to do the work. Unfortunately, many warehouses undervalue their workers because they forget just how crucial they are to the overall success of the facility. Let's take a closer look at why it pays to have great warehouse workers.

A warehouse must run like a well-oiled machine from the moment a shipment arrives to the moment a product is sent to the customer. Each order goes through a series of steps before it leaves the warehouse, and those steps must occur in an efficient manner. If one of those steps takes longer than it's supposed to, the entire operation can get thrown off.

Let's take a look at some of the most common causes of warehousing delays and how a distribution center can prevent them.

The holiday season may be a few months away, but the prep work for it starts right now. Warehouses, third party logistics providers, ecommerce merchants and retail stores alike must use the next few months to make sure they're ready for the holiday rush. Here is a look at some of the ways we prepare for the holidays here at Overflo.

Order picking is a key step in a warehouse's fulfillment system. The efficiency of the pick determines how quickly packages get on the truck to be sent to the consumer. If the pickers are slow, the entire shipment could be delayed. This causes a ripple effect that is nothing short of a nightmare.

Let's take a look at some easy ways to improve order picking efficiency to keep a warehouse running at its prime.

Lean third party logistics has become increasingly popular over the last few years, but most people don't actually know what that entails. There are several elements involved with lean operations, and they do not happen overnight. In this guide, we will explain what lean 3PL warehousing is and how it affects all parties involved.

The loading dock is where it all begins. This is the hub of the distribution center, and it sets the pace for the rest of the warehouse. If your loading dock isn't running efficiently, nothing else will. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to enhance warehouse loading dock efficiency and keep your operations running smooth.

Forklift drivers make up a large portion of a warehouse's labor force. Their safety and efficiency determine how productive the distribution center is as a whole. At Overflo, we take extra precautions to ensure that our forklift drivers are safe and that they have the safety of others in mind. Here is a look at some driver safety tips for warehouse forklift operators that we use in our distribution center.

Your business is growing and you need somewhere to store all your inventory. You could purchase a warehouse to run on your own, or you could contract your warehousing needs to a third party logistics provider. Having your own warehouse may sound like a great plan at first, but it may ultimately be a waste of money. Here are a few reasons why buying your own warehouse is a bad idea.

Your business is growing and you need somewhere to store all your inventory. You could purchase a warehouse to run on your own, or you could contract your warehousing needs to a third party logistics provider. Having your own warehouse may sound like a great plan at first, but it may ultimately be a waste of money. Here are a few reasons why buying your own warehouse is a bad idea.

Many businesses deal with seasonal demand fluctuations. Inventory levels will shift drastically from season to season. If you are not prepared for this big shift, you may feel overwhelmed during the transition. The tips below will help you prepare for inventory adjustments so you can get through every obstacle with confidence.

Product displays are just as important as the products themselves. They create a platform to show off your items, and they set the tone for your store as a whole. Whether you are opening a new store or updating your existing one, you need to make sure your new product displays arrive intact. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

Every industry has its hiccups, from retail to dining to entertainment and beyond. You may not be able to bypass all of these potential problems, but you can try to prepare for them ahead of time. If something goes wrong, the results will be minimal. Here are the top retail warehousing issues and some tips to help you avoid them.

Opening a new store is about more than painting the walls and getting the registers ready. Logistics providers play a vital role in the process. Without proper inventory management solutions, a new store can turn into a total disaster right from the start. Thankfully, there are some simple preparatory steps you can take to ensure your store opening goes smoothly.

Transitioning to a new warehouse is no easy task, but sometimes, it's the only option. Maybe your old warehouse is no longer in operation, or your business needs outgrew your current location. Whatever the case may be, proper planning will ensure your move goes smoothly. Here are some warehouse transition tips.

Are you worried that warehousing and distribution is just too much for your business to handle right now? It's not! Here at Overflo, we offer storage and shipping solutions for businesses of all sizes, so you can get the exact services you need to fit your needs, your budget, and your goals. Our logistics solutions will scale up and down with the changing demands in your business, so you will only have to pay for the services you actually need. Read on to learn more.

Having a centralized inventory management system is crucial for warehouses, retailers, and customers alike. This program ensures that every package, every shipment, and every pallet is tracked and monitored in real time. Here at Overflo, we work with the latest inventory management solutions on the market to streamline our services and ensure constant communication with our clients. Here is a look at why centralized inventory management matters and what it does to help your business.

The e-commerce industry has grown tremendously over the last few years. Many stores are shutting down physical locations to invest more resources in their online sales department. Transitioning from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce is not something that happens overnight. In order to have the highest success rate and little to no losses, the change should be gradual.

Humans have no control over Mother Nature. If she wants it to rain, it's going to rain. If she wants it to snow, it's going to snow. The environment has a huge impact on the warehousing industry, more so than most people realize. In this discussion, we will explore some of the ways nature influences distribution centers across America.

For most warehouses, the peak season isn't until the last quarter of the year. That's when retailers start filling their inventory levels for the holidays and when people start actively shopping online. That doesn't mean that distribution centers can wait until that time to start their prep work. Here at Overflo, we are already getting ready for the demand to come.

Here is a look at why warehouses should start preparing for peak season now and what we're doing to improve the experiences for our customers.

Order fulfillment plays a direct role in customer satisfaction. If the picking, packing, and shipping are not done to a certain standard, the customer could lose faith in your company. In order to keep your success going strong, check out these four ways to improve customer satisfaction with order fulfillment.

Millennials are the latest generation of adults. They're young, they're tech savvy, and they're ready to take on the world. What do these smartphone-based shoppers have to do with the retail industry? Absolutely everything. Millennials have a major impact on every element of retail, from the way items are displayed in stores to the way warehouses adapt to their shopping habits.
Let's take a closer look at the influence Millennials have on merchants and distribution centers alike.

Kickstarter campaigns are becoming increasingly popular as Americans seek out new innovations to enhance and enrich their lives. Everything from a smartphone compatible wallet to a funny board game has been sold on Kickstarter and similar startup ecommerce sites. If you are planning to launch a product on there in the near future, you need to plan for the aftermath of the campaign. What will you do when the sales finally come in? How will you handle the storage and shipment of your products?
This guide will provide valuable distribution and order fulfillment tips for Kickstarter sellers to help you have a successful launch.

One of the biggest reasons people hesitate about getting order fulfillment services is because they do not want to lose control of their business. They fear that allowing someone else to take over their picking, packing and shipping will keep them out of the loop. In all reality, you still maintain control of your business even if you outsource order fulfillment to a third party provider. We'll show you how…

In the world of warehousing and distribution, efficiency and productivity are crucial to the overall success of a business. Not only does this impact the success of the actual warehouse, but it also influences the success of the clients relying on the warehouse for storage and order fulfillment. One of the keys to maximizing productivity levels is to have the proper training strategies in place. Here are some examples of how good warehouse training can help employees do better at their jobs.

"How much money does order fulfillment cost?" This is one of the most common questions we get when people contact our warehouse about storage and shipping services. As much as we would love to provide a generic answer about order fulfillment pricing, the fact is that every client has completely different needs. Those needs determine what they pay for order fulfillment and what order services we can bundle into their plan for them.

For the second year in a row, there were more online shoppers over Thanksgiving weekend than there were retail store shoppers in America. Translation: Americans are relying more and more on the internet to get the best deals for their holiday purchases.

The holidays are a stressful time for warehouses and order fulfillment companies. This is the busiest shopping season of the year, causing distribution centers to hire extra laborers to pick, pack, and ship orders out to customers. What makes a good seasonal order picker? What should a warehouse look for when hiring this type of person to join their team? Those are the questions we will answer in this holiday warehousing guide.

The logistics industry requires the work of countless transporters, pickers, order fulfillers, managers, drivers, and more. Freight brokers are among the employees who help items get from a seller to a customer. What is a freight broker, and how can you choose the right broker for your business? This guide will provide an overview of what a freight broker does so you can have a better understanding of this position.

The term "order fulfillment" covers a wide range of services your business could benefit from. Every step involved with receiving, processing, or delivering an order can be called order fulfillment. Some steps must be adjusted to fit the specific needs of the client or customer receiving the order, but most of them remain the same across the board. Here we will explore what order fulfillment looks like from start to finish so you can get a better understanding of this process.

If you are searching for a third party logistics provider, you may be looking at warehouses across multiple states. Some of these may be better suited for you than others based on their proximity to your customers and their overall efficiency. Overflo is located in Baltimore, Maryland, a premium place for shipping, receiving, transporting, and more.

Reducing your overhead is an essential step in running a successful business. The more money you can save in expenses, the more you have to invest in other areas of corporate development. Whether you run a small ecommerce business or a large retail store, you can save money with third party logistics. In this guide, we will go over some of the many ways 3PL can cut your costs so you can take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

When you start exploring the world of warehousing, you will hear the term "inventory management" a lot. While the basic definition of this term is fairly explanatory (it involves the management of the inventory for your business), there are a variety of services that may fall under the umbrella of inventory management. In this guide, we will take a look at what warehousing inventory management really is and the different types of services you can get along the way.

The logistics industry is vast. It covers a wide range of services that all have an impact on how a product gets from the maker to the recipient. No matter where your business fits in the production and shipment line, it's always a good idea to get a feel for how a product gets from Point A to Point B. Here we will explore different types of logistics services and how they may impact your business or customers.

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means that retailers need to start stocking up for the big shopping days. If you have not already talked to your warehouse about your storage options, now is the time to see what extra space will be available for you and how you can make the transition before the end of the year.

Logistics has its own special jargon, just like any other industry. Whether you want to work in transportation or you just want to know a little more about the shipping process, it would be wise to learn about common freight hauling terms and definitions. The short dictionary below will give you the introduction you need to be better versed in freight hauling.

It's never too early to prepare for Black Friday. With more Americans shopping online for Thanksgiving weekend every year, it's important to be ready for the mad rush of orders that may be coming in the near future. Don't wait until the last minute to get your facility ready. Check out these early warehouse preparations for Black Friday.

There are a number of containers used in the shipping industry for the transportation of goods and products. As part of the logistics process, it's important to figure out which container is best suited for each shipment's specific needs. Let's take a look at the most common types of shipping containers and their uses.

Truck drivers play a pivotal role in the shipping industry. They are the ones responsible for getting products from one place to another in a safe, secure and timely manner. The term "trucker" covers a wide span of jobs in warehousing and distribution, more so than most people realize. In the discussion below, we will go over each of these trucking jobs in greater detail so you can determine if one of them is right for you.

Online shopping has revolutionized the way people spend money in the modern world. Last year, consumers spent a whopping $4.45 billion for online purchases on Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day alone. Whether you run a small store online or a large chain or retail websites, you could benefit from outsourcing your eCommerce order fulfillment. Let's take a look at just some of the many advantages that come from trusting your warehouse with your order fulfillment.

Shopping around for the perfect warehouse and distribution center can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to keep in mind, from pricing to flexibility to location and more. Here at Overflo, we take pride in providing every one of our customers with the storage and order fulfillment services they need. Here are six tips for selecting the perfect warehouse so you can make sure you work with the right company from the start.

Every industry comes with its own jargon – words and abbreviations that have a special meaning when used in a specific context. These terms change and expand with new technology and other industry developments, so it's important to freshen up your knowledge.

Efficiency is a crucial part of the order fulfillment process. It ensures that products get to their destinations on time without sacrificing the quality of the packing, shipping, and arrival of the order.

Spring and summer are the peak shipping periods for fresh produce. This creates a high demand for shippers throughout the country, which has a ripple-effect on companies throughout the shipping industry.

Black Friday 2015 was unlike any other. There was a major shift in the way consumers purchased products during the biggest sales season of the year, and this shift could transform shipping and order management for years to come....

Consumers have a stronger impact on supply chain management now than ever before. Changes in the way people order and receive products in the modern world have forced distribution centers to adjust their shipping methods and streamline their inventory management programs....

Food warehousing is a breed all its own. It's one thing for a warehouse to house plastic and wood products, but it's another thing entirely for the warehouse to support food people will eat in the future....

Third Party Logistics, also known as TPL or 3PL, is a process that involves outsourcing your storage and distribution services to another company. You rent out a portion of a warehouse that matches your personal needs, and the 3PL provider takes care of...

The warehouse you choose to work with will have a major impact on your customer satisfaction levels, more so than you may realize. Your business can either thrive or fall, depending on the efficiency, experience, and care your distribution center provides for you. Before you settle for the first warehouse you come across, you may want to learn about the various ways this company will impact your customer satisfaction.